User reviews

This is Gujarati cinema at it's peak. It really sets a new bar of expectations for me now as to how even the lowest of budgets can produce a film of this quality.

Gujarati films recently have just been narrowed down to either being romance dramas or comedies (the only exception being Raado (2022)). You really can't expect anything else from a Gujarati film and for a while, even I thought that this was good for a regional movie industry as almost every film that was produced was at the very least watchable and a good escape from the normal rush of life. I myself preferred to watch Gujarati film every once in a while to satisfy that inner urge to find escapism from my day-to-day routine. Now, after seeing this film, I am really starting to despise those films.

This film understands what films essentially are and what they mean to some people. The director knows not everyone in the state is going to like it and he simply does not cater to them. He just makes sure that the target audience he's going for gets the best experience they are going to get at the movies (and he succeeds at the task with flying colours).

I won't spoil anything about this beautiful film to you and I will just urge you to watch this beautiful piece of art in the biggest screen possible. Not just because this film is India's official entry for the 2022 Academy Awards but because it is a step up than the regular regional films we've been getting lately.

I personally connected with the film on a core level and was just crying in the climax with how beautifully it ends. The film ends with a shining ray of hope that if you like something, you've dedicated yourself to it, and you've understood everything there is to, you will get to it eventually. The road is not going to be easy, and there will be great hurdles in the way which will make you want to quit (even though you've come this far) but the stars eventually do line-up for you and give you that one chance which completely changes your life. Whether you take that chance or not is upto you because stars may not line-up for you again. I salute the makers of this film for making this and giving me the experience of a lifetime; of cinema.

One thing that I would like to point out is that the film is, at times, too similar to Cinema Paradiso (1999). If you've seen that film, you'll instantly start spotting the similarities it has with the film and that can drag you out a little bit from the film. However, it does have major changes near the end of the film where it manages to make an identity of it's own in realistic and brutal ways which, I thought were beautiful.

This semi-autobiographical tale narrates the life of Samay from the moment he discovers the beauty that is cinema and falls in love with it. The cute boy with a sharp tongue who knows to humorously explain the reason behind his parents naming him Samay (Time) gets mesmerised by the idea of a film. Not wanting to make a film, his obsession begins with bunking classes to catch a film and when he doesn't have the money to watch one, he learns to bribe the projector guy Fazal to let him watch the films from the projector room. Thus begins his journey through the basic lessons of screening a film, taught by the Fazal.

The film spends quite a bit of time at the projector room with Samay feeling the light and how intrigued he is with what he sees on screen as well as the process that goes through to bring life on screen, turning light into stories. He has his bunch of friends back at home, with whom he experiments with showing film reels, each of these scenes were really charming. The cinematography is indeed the main lead here especially with the kitchen shots where Samay's mother prepares yummy dishes for him even after realising someone else is eating them.

The film stay too personal with each scene, sometimes feeling too over indulgent considering the entire film is from the little kid's pov and it is way too profound for him to relate that way. Battling his tea selling father's dislike towards films and ofcourse not realising the struggles of his father to make ends meet. Adding to that is the tryst with the law, again due to his actions without understanding the repercussions. The true heart wrenching moment is with the reels to digital transformation bit which is beautifully depicted on screen. The film's end however looked rushed.

Overall, it is a sweet tribute to cinema. With a runtime under 2 hours, one cannot complain much about the pace.

What actually is cinema? For some it may be the pile of lies , the way to escape from the reality while for some it may be passion,love,emotion where the love is found. This is a lovely move its an ode to bollywood showing how much it connects or divide people,in which layers it affects the society.

The kid "Samaya" wants to be a movie.. or lets say movie maker . He has different eye to see everything eyes like the camera. The eye which sees light, darkness and unending love for cinema. Born in a mediocore family which lost most of the things when "Life happened." Except the glitches on the chronology of the movies shown in the theater its a smooth and great watch. The unspoken silent scenes are beautiful and the symbolism through cooking is awesome.

A normal story shown in perfect way.

I have previously predicted and written that Pan Nalin is one of the most innovative and soulful filmmaker of modern era. Each of his movie is fresh with renewed moviemaking style and substance. And Last Film Show is a masterpiece in every sense of the word. It's gorgeous and deeply moving, It's tragic and terrific, It's the purest cinema with unbelievable simplicity and poetry. Pan Nalin not only celebrates magic of movies but also the magic of being unknowing genius. From Lumiere Brothers to Tarkovsky, Pan Nalin packs in so many punches and passion filled plots in one single movie -as if he has managed to pay homage to the entire gamut of movie magic and entertainment industry.

Last Film Show took me on an incredible voyage as if I was in a trance. I was hypnotized by this skillfully crafted movie and totally blown away by the command of direction, cinematography, editing and sound design.

I laughed, I fell silent, I was anxious, I was scared, then laughed again -but in the end it made me weep. This movie is breathtaking and heartbreaking both at the same time. It touches you deep within. It is a top-notch quality entertainment that is so inspiring - you will come out of the movie feeling happy, positive and uplifted.

Super highly recommended -and watch this movie with your family and friends -and it is an absolute must for those who love cinema!

Open your heart and let the Pan Nalin flood your heart with his light...

I watched this film with my whole filmmaking class. If you are a filmmaker you are gonna love this. I don't know why it got very less rating but it deserves more than you think. The director did a brilliant job. The cinematography of this Film was outstanding. And the story was just perfect. I think everyone should watch this. Seeing this gave me hope thats indian cinema can Still make good films. The acting and the dialogue was on point and the story was also well paced. If you love old Indian cinema then watching this film will be a trip down the memory lane. Overall a 9/10 movie and totally worth sending it to Oscar.

Chhello Show (2021) : Brief Review -

What Giuseppe Tornatore's Italian classic "Nuovo Cinema Paradiso" missed, Pan Nalin's Chhello Show brings to the screen. An unforgettable ode to real struggle and love for cinema. Tornatore's Cinema Paradiso will always remain in memory books, and why not? That film was just magic, especially for a true movie buff. I won't say Tornatore missed something considering the late 80s filmmaking, because Cinema Paradiso was way ahead of its time. But today, when I look at it as a modern classic and think that there was a scope for something, then I would have loved to change the personal angle of the protagonist from a regular working guy to someone who loves cinema more than anything in life. But that's life, you know. You have to sacrifice the most loved thing to achieve some mainstream goals, so I will give it a fair excuse. However, Pan Nalin's Chhello Show made my imagination come to the reel life in the best possible way. The love for cinema is the basic subject, as we know, but how far you can take it is the real challenge. Nalin just didn't take the challenge, but set a landmark for others. An absolute banger of a cinema into cinema. Cinema Paradiso, Cinema Bandi and Chhello Show - three films that show you the real passion of cinema and I'd like to watch on the last day of my life. Nalin's film is an ode to all the great filmmakers and actors who have filled out life with different colours on 35mm. That climax, the bangles, and the names.. Speechless. A pin-drop silence with an ultimate burn. I was remembering films by Georges Méliès, DW Griffith, Fritz Lang, Ozu, Wilder and many more of those filmmakers mentioned there. Swapnil Sonawane's frames would get a 10/10 from Leonardo Da Vinci. What stunning cinematography! Thank you, Mr. Genius Nalin and the entire team of the Chhello Show for the show of a lifetime. The Cinema and we cinema lovers will always owe you a salute for this memorable tribute.

RATING - 8.5/10*

By - #samthebestest.

Here the algorithm is very simple. You yourself know how many different films there are in India. So the Academy will not choose a bad one. Of course, it is beneficial to them in terms of audience and number. But still, it's a good movie. About how you are from a city without prospects, going after your dream. Actually, the picture is very beautiful, there are many combined scenes and angles. Some may find the story too naive. Yes, it is. But still, it deserves to be seen.

India has clearly learned how to make a nice picture with a bunch of different scenes, for little money. Shortlisted for the 2022 Oscars in the international category.

As a Gujarati, I cannot believe this is a Gujarati movie... Indeed Gujarati cinema is growing up.

Review :

The best part of this movie is its cinematography.

There are so many beautiful shots in movie & its showing culture so well.

Story is very unique & likeable. It is represent evolution of theatres & cinema. Sometimes the movie's pace becomes slow but in the end it gets emotional.

In acting department everyone doing well specially main character kid "Samay" & his father (Honorable mention : His friend "fazal")

In some scenarios, i feel length of this movie should be short but still my opinion is you must watch this movie for once & enjoy the journey of bollywood cinema.

10th June 2021 I was at home, in Delhi but not in the best headspace. I wake up one morning to see a still of Samay from this film and it said, "I want to study light, because light become stories. Stories becomes film".

From that moment, I wanted to watch this film. I saw the trailer, I was full of so many questions in my head and I only wanted to watch it more. It reminded me of Toto's sparkling eyes in Cinema Paradiso and my heart was warm.

I happened to watch this film yesterday, it was literally 2 hours before the screening was happening in Bombay and Pranati asked if I'll be able to make it. I was sure, my happiness had no bounds. I enter the hotel to see the Director. I passed a smile, not sure if I should have or no until he smiled back. I wanted to ask him so many questions but I wanted to wait till I saw the film only to ask more(in my head).

We managed to have a very brief interaction right before entering the screening, the film started and after that I only know 2 hours later I was smiling while tears rolled down my eyes. I had no questions to ask.

Samay wasn't Toto, Samay was no one else but a little boy brought up in a tiny village in Gujarat with sparkling eyes and intoxicated love for Cinema.

I stepped out of the screening, didn't have words that could express what I felt, I walked to him with teary eyes and a wide smile only to say, "it felt like I've meditated for 2 hours".

I know digitalisation is inevitable but I'm still envious of that time when films were exhibited with reels and for a brief moment I felt like Samay while I heard all the Veterans talk of their experiences dealing with reels right after the screening.

I hope to keep Samay alive, deep down within me and people I love all through the years they work to tell stories, make films, create cinema with the honesty it deserves.

I would have loved if I could only experience this film for the first time again.

Chhello Show is a love letter to cinema in general. In its childlike innocence and poetic sense of wonder (both literally & figuratively), Last Film Show provides a unique insight into the showreel business through a humorous, yet relatable perspective. Its stupendous camera work and palliative music add to the film's overall poignant posture.

The simplicity of the writing won out. Although it is basic and rudimentary, it never got into much detail in the first place, but guess what? It never needed to. There was no intention on the part of the creators nor was complexity necessitated by circumstances. And I believe, a simple narrative often tells a story better than one that is replete with soulless sophistication.

And 'Chhello Show' is a testament to that fact!

This is a very good film overall. I will therefore skip on already provided here delights of cinemas paradisos.... However, what other reviewers didn't notice is that this visual masterpiece balances our delights in films with several statements - produced by the local film "expert", namely Fazal, the operator of a film projector in cinema "Galaxy" - that the films prime service is in the service of lies. Appropriately, the movie main character, a child who want to connect light and stories, is a consistent and consummate liar in the service of lies-bearing films - which leads him even to the stay in the juvenile house. Yet Samay does not stop - he will be lying further. Since Fazal is a Muslim and Samay is a Hindu one cannot but see delicate polemics between two religions concerning lies and its embellishments too. Fazal does not want to see more films.

This beautifully shot movie has certain fantastic elements: for example, it is hard to believe that a working film projector can be built by an elementary school pupil just from scrap metal. On the other hand, the most moving scene, of the death of the old projector and of the old film reels, has clear apocalyptic undertones - by fire these artificial stories are destroyed, and then they are reborn/reincarnated as cutlery and plastic jewellery. It may sound comic as you read it, but believe me, in cinema it will be a truly apocalyptic experience, thanks not only to cinematography and editing but to music, appropriately framing those scenes. In the end, constant associations of "light" and stories/movies together with the closing journey of fire & apocalypse conveys some religious, gnostic, or perhaps occult, ideas - like of the fight of Light with Demiurge, the god of matter. But is the Light a lie...?! The Question stays.

I didn't want to give it one star but it thoroughly deserves to be criticized. It is a mediocre movie which is not worth the hype at all. Pseudo-intellectuals are hailing it as a great to show that it is not for ordinary movie goers.

It is a torture that lasts for over 100 minutes. It is so mundane and boring that you will start to snooze after first few minutes. I was unfortunate enough to waste my time on it. In other circumstances I would have given it 3-4 but i wanted to make a point. Cinema can be a means of entertainment while educating the viewers. But if it cant hold the attention of the viewers, it could be as dull as a hot afternoon traffic. I hope we start celebrating movies that actually entertain and educate us instead of these boring mundane films which cater to a few pseudo-intellectuals.

I was just back from India a week when I went to see this film in Dublin. I was prepared to be disappointed and didn't put an effort into reading about the film or any reviews beforehand. I'm writing this review because I want to share with you that I was totally transported by this beautiful film . The intimate visuals brought me into the small spaces of the young boys world. The cooking spot in his home where his mothers hands prepare the daily food to the cathartic magic of the cinema projection room. And the story is really good . Cinema is huge in India, I remember back in the Nineties in India going to see films in small rural cinemas stuffed to capacity with audiences shouting singing and dancing to the plot. Fireflies lighting up the night screenings - This film captures the magic and the meaning of what film means in small rural communities . And what it means to be a boy who is trying to make sense of something so elusive on many levels. Go see this film - it's a celebration of film and what it is to touch magic . I loved it. 👍Michelle.

Myself and five friends were some of the lucky ones to view Last Film Show by Pan Nalin at the Irish Family Film Festival in the IFI cinema in Dublin, Ireland on Saturday, 27 August 2022.

To say that the film moved us was an understatement - we were all shedding tears at the end of it - but tears of happiness, as this inspring story that was so beautifully told through film (and light) touched all of us in different ways. It was a perfect Saturday afternoon very well spent.

Samay and his co-actors are to be praised for portraying their sense of the film and story across so well.

This film was made all the more special by the fact that the IFI had invited a number of children at their Family Festival, into the screening room earlier that day and so, without realising what the film they were about to see was about, the children like Samay and his friends, got to experience what the screening room was like - the part light played in films - stories - machines - etc. They then got to tell the audience before the film all about THEIR experience in the screening room. It was magical. To then view the film after that was so much more special. Well done to Pan Nalin and al the cast and crew of Last Film Show. Every single child, and parent, and teacher, should have the chance to see this film . Well done to all. Dhanyavad.

Attaining depths in silence, color and light. So elegantly balanced in its nuances and flow. Deceivingly simple yet magically rich and complex in layer. The effortless mastery of the camera and the director's storytelling makes you forget you're watching a movie.

Immersive and riveting as the film reminds you of the wonder of cinema in its pure form. Nostalgic, yet harshly real. Loving yet reluctant. A movie about pleasure, pain, regret, repentance, failure and triumph. Reminds us of the power of love and determination.

This is a film that will touch your soul; give warmth and joy to your heart.

Captivating! Fantastic everything - the entire cast of actors, musicians, writers, recordists, scoring, light men, etc - you make the entire film industry proud once more!

Congratulations to "Last Film Show" ! Simply Wonderful ! And most of all to the storyteller ....thank you for sharing this jewel with the world. This is what the Magic of Cinema was meant to look like. Bravo!!!

Imagine you have not seen Cinema Paradiso.

Now let's talk about Chhello Show. This is an Indian story. All of us have lived it, especially those born in small towns until 90's. Movies were our escape from the boring reality. But some of us like the maker Pal Nalin, chose moviemaking as a career. Within few minutes you start experiencing this movie in an immersive way that you are no longer a viewer, you become the character. That is the power of true storytelling. The style of moviemaking is so meditative and lifelike. This movie will continue to inspire the future generation of moviemakers.

However, the real competition it would face will not be the comparison to Cinema Paradiso but The Fabelmans whose maker it pays homage to. Nevertheless, it has the potential to surprise audience and jury alike, be it India or Oscars.

OMG what a movie. Absolutely stunning master piece by Pan Nalin.

This movie will captivate you from start to finish.

Amazing acting by all the actors and of course, Oscar deserving performance by little master Bhavin Rabari. All the child actors acted brilliantly. Every child actor's screen presence and confidence were remarkable.

This movie definitely deserves an academy award.

Story telling at its best by Movie Maestro Pan Nalin. Like any other Pan Nalin movie, he has researched a lot on this project and it's evident throughout the movie. It's fun to watch the way he plays with lights and colours in the movie. I would love to see this movie over and over again.

Pan Nalin has poured his heart in making this movie. This is a must watch movie on a big screen.

A masterpiece and picturesque cinematic treat to the audience. The film is already selected as an official entry from India for the 95th Oscars Academy Awards and genuinely it deserves that supreme level. Every frame of the film is amazingly artistic and gives the best allure to the eyes. Pan Nalin's attempt of making a film which is based on the cinema is highly praiseworthy and its execution is simply brilliant. This movie will take the audience to that nostalgia where films were being projected via projectors on screen and two reels/spools of each film got distributed to the theatres in box.

Film has a backdrop of village and there is one ambitious child who wants to be a film maker when he will grow up. Watching films is his only passion and for that he even bunks school. His father who runs a tea-stall doesn't like this; but the child is adamant and dreams only cinema. With his gang he finds one Projectionist and befriends him so that he can watch movies from the Projection Room. He also gets to see how films are showcased via Projectors and then he feels sheer urge to learn and implement whole mechanism behind this by his own childlike ways. However there comes a day when digital projection of films takes over the traditional ways and how that would impact to this Child and the Projectionist forms the crux of the film.

Casting of the film is very suitable. All the actors look very natural (raw) and they have acted superbly. Lead child artist Bhavin Rabari is excellent and delivers engaging performance. Bhavesh Shrimali also outshines in the role of Projectionist. Dipen Raval and Richa Meena are appealing; specifically, Richa Meena as mother, steals the show with her alluring cooking. There are some more child artists in the cast as well, and all of them make their presence felt worthy.

The whole story, frame by frame, is splendidly shown on the screen. The lush green village and that 80s-90s period have been presented in the film so well that we indeed slip into that time. Direction is intense and different anecdotes of story are astoundingly picturized. Cinematography is such beautiful that at times we even forget to blink our eyes. The script is very strongly written; despite the film is simple, it completely holds the audience via its storytelling, dialogues, and apt background score. Everything is glorious pertain to the film and which makes it a MUST WATCH. I was able to relate myself to the film a little more because I have lived the tales depicted in the film. As said, it's a cinematic treat which is beautiful, striking, emotional, and engrossing too! Film grabs all the stars from me 5 / 5 (🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟). Run and watch this in cinema!

What I Liked Most? - The last scene inside train which I don't want to reveal here.

P. S. - The film is also a semi-autobiography of director Pan Nalin.

By - Niraj Solanki...!

Such a wonderful movie and the acting of those kids were too amazing and they were lived in their character and special credits to pan nalin thanks for this wonderful creation.

The food making scenes and the location of the scenes are really really nice and for creating a new thing can take so much time but for destroying a few seconds is enough for those projector technology scenes Worth watching and I loved the film and all the best and congrats for the entire cast and crew.

The dad and mother character are also too good and emotional and those jail scenes and those projector making scenes are my most favourite and thanks to pan nalin.

Like this excellent movie never made again so nyc movie this movie heart winning movie national award international award winning movie for me always I never forget this in my whole life. However, what other reviewers didn't notice is that this visual masterpiece balances our delights in films with several statements - produced by the local film "expert", namely Fazal, the operator of a film projector in cinema "Galaxy" - that the films prime service is in the service of lies. Appropriately, the movie main character, a child who want to connect light and stories, is a consistent and consummate liar in the service of lies-bearing films - which leads him even to the stay in the juvenile house. Yet Samay does not stop - he will be lying further. Since Fazal is a Muslim and Samay is a Hindu one cannot but see delicate polemics between two religions concerning lies and its embellishments too. Fazal does not want to see more films.

I would firstly like to thank each and everyone envolved in this picture. The story is life changing and it tells us how one need to be for his dream to come true. The mother's love,Father's sacrifice, friends,... we have everything in this.

This movie deserve to represt our country and I hope you guys get the best of awards.

Movies like this one makes people grow in life with it's influence.

Movies like this will help people achieve their dreams.

Thank God India still has the quality filmmakers in all region.

The mother's acting was amazing.

Father has also done a very good job.

Music is good.

Finally,the climax makes is so so so better.

What a beautiful film this is! A true gem from Pan Nalin. It is engaging, entertaining and educative! The whole style of telling this story is so unique. Performances of all the actors is simply fantastic. The relationship between the young boy and the film runner behind the projector is brilliant. Their bond is truly innocent and i love the relationship between father and son and how father recognises his son's talent and lets him go and explore his dreams is something really progressive which in rural conservative families is not possible. He noticed his son's talent and realised his mistakes is what mattered! Watch it on Netflix people. You'll are in for a treat!